Changes that became effective Wednesday (July 1) in the registration and titling of motor vehicles are expected to improve customer convenience, law enforcement efforts and record keeping.

Beginning Wednesday, individuals registering a motor vehicle in Idaho or seeking a vehicle title need to provide a full legal name, along with either a driver's license number or Idaho-issued identification card. A verifiable physical address and mailing addresses also is required.

Individuals who do not have an Idaho driver's license, official identification card issued by Idaho driver licensing offices or a Social Security Number can submit a letter from the Social Security Administration confirming the federal agency has not issued a number.

An individual's legal name can be established by presenting a driver's license, passport, birth certificate, military I.D. card, or other similar credential approved by the transportation department.

These requirements already must be met for anyone who seeks an Idaho driver's license or identification card from the Division of Motor Vehicles, said Barry Takeuchi, Titles Program supervisor.

Implementation of the new requirements will aid ITD in moving toward a "one person, one record" approach.

The vision is to combine driver's licenses, endorsements, personal identification cards, vehicle registrations and titles into a single record. For customer convenience, when a new system being developed for ITD is put into place, all of the information will be collected and processed through one Division of Motor Vehicles transaction.

The changes also will help law enforcement agencies with investigations by providing a list of all vehicles owned by an individual. Obtaining full identification information will help to protect vehicle owners by ensuring that a vehicle is titled and registered to the rightful, legal owner.